DUBAI, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The flow of crude oil through theUK's Brent pipeline system in the North Sea was back up to80,000 barrels per day (bpd) late on Monday, following aprecautionary shutdown last week, Abu Dhabi National Energy Co(TAQA) said.
The Brent pipeline system typically carries 90,000 bpd ofoil from several fields off Scotland, but TAQA's 10,000 bpd Cormorant Alpha platform remains shut due to an oilleak in one of its legs.
"Flow in the Brent pipeline system has now been restored upto levels around 80,000 bpd. This is pretty much full flow rateminus Cormorant Alpha production which is still shut down," acompany spokesman said in an email.
TAQA said on Jan. 15 it had closed the Brent pipeline systemas a precaution after discovering oil in one of the legs of Cormorant Alpha.
On Jan. 16 it said the Brent system was safe to use andsmall volumes of oil began flowing the next day as fieldoperators relying on the pipeline network brought them back intoproduction.
As Brent is one of the four North Sea oils used as abenchmark to price oil around the world, partly via Brent crudefutures, the system's closure supported global prices in themiddle of last week when other factors were weighing on oil.
The Brent system is jointly owned by 21 companies. Itconsists of part of the processing systems and structure on theCormorant Alpha platform, operated by TAQA, as well as a 150 kmpipeline connecting Cormorant Alpha to the BP-operated Sullom Voe Oil Terminal in the Shetland Islands.
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